Launching arrangement for sub-caliber projectiles

ABSTRACT

ARRANGEMENT FOR LAUNCHING SUB-CALLER CARTRIDGES FROM EXISTING WEAPONS WHILE MAINTAINING THE WEAPON CAPABLE OF ITS NORMAL USE. A SUB-CALIBER CARTRIDGE IS POSITIONED WITHIN A TRAVELING BARREL FROM WHICH IT IS SEPARATED SUBSEQUENT TO JOINT INITIAL TRAVEL THROUGH A PORTION OF A LAUNCHING TUBE. SEPRATE PROPELLANT CHARGES ARE PROVIDED TO OBTAIN AN INITIAL LAUNCHING PRESSURE AND A SUBSEQUENT SEPARATION PRESSURE WITHIN THE LAUNCH TUBE.

NOV. 9, 197] J GRANDY 3,618,250

LAUNCHING ARRANGEMENT FOR SUB-CALIBER PROJECTILES Filed Aug. 15, 1969 INVENTOR, ANDREW J.. GRANDY m. 1 2139 4, WMQ X. QM mronmnrs:

3,618,250 LAUNCHING ARRANGEMENT FOR SUB-CALIBER PRUJEC'HLES Andrew .1. Grandy, North Hills, Pa, assignor to the United tates of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Aug. 15, 196?, Ser. No. 850,462 int. Cl. F41c 21/10; F4211) 5/14 11.3. C]. 4277 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE lDlISClLOfiURE Arrangement for launching sub-caliber cartridges from existing weapons while maintaining the weapon capable of its normal use. A sub-caliber cartridge is positioned within a traveling barrel from which it is separated subsequent to joint initial travel through a portion of a launching tube. Separate propellant charges are provided to obtain an initial launching pressure and a subsequent separation pressure Within the launch tube.

The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The invention relates to weapon systems and, more particularly, to weapon systems for launching sub-caliber cartridges or projectiles.

It is an object of the invention to provide a sub-caliber cartridge launching arrangement for use in existing weapons which are readily capable of versatile operation with their normal cartridges.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an arrangement which is inexpensive and includes a lightweight, easily distinguishable cartridge.

It is a further object to provide such an arrangement that produces an increased muzzle velocity and energy accompanied by lower instantaneous recoil forces.

These and other objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a weapon arrangement embodying the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a similar view of a modified arrangement.

The rifle stock (FIG. 1) has its launching tube 11 secured thereto by means (not shown). The inner end of the launching tube, rearward of its rifling groove means 12, is provided with annular recesses 13, 14 to accommodate similarly shaped peripheral portions of an obturator 15 that is secured to the rearward circumferential flange 16 of an expendable traveling barrel 17 by a light crimp or the equivalent. Preferably, the longitudinally spaced, circumferential flanges 16, 18 on the barrel 17 have predetermined peripheral dimensioning such that their outer surfaces can slidably function with clearance within or inside the lands or smallest dimensioning of the launch tube rifling grooves 12.

The obturator 15 has its forward face centrally recessed to contain a first propellant charge 20 that is initiated by its primer 21 upon actuation of an appropriate firing pin (not shown). A second firing pin 22, responsive to ignition of charge 20 is slidably mounted in the centrally apertured closed end 23 of traveling barrel 17 for igniting a second primer 24 that is centrally secured in the rearward closed end 25 of sub-caliber cartridge case 26.

3,618,25h Patented Nov. 9, 1971 A retaining sleeve 27 is cemented to the interior surface of the traveling barrel 17 with its rearward end abutting the cartridge case circumferential. lip or flange 28 to secure the cartridge case 26 in the desired position within the traveling barrel. A second propellant charge 30, initiated by its primer 24, is located within the cartridge case 26 rearwardly of intermediately positioned wad means 31, 32 that separates the propellant charge 30 from the forwardly positioned shot load or mass 33. A suitable shotshell closure 34 normally retains the shot load 33 within the cartridge prior to firing of the round.

Opon initiation of propellant charge 20, the expendable traveling barrel 17 is separated from obturator 15 and is propelled toward the muzzle end of launching tube 11, as the firing pin 22 actuates a delay ignition of propellant charge 30 that produces a second and relatively higher gas pressure build-up within tube 11 and at a higher velocity propels the shot mass 33 out the muzzle end of tne expendable traveling barrel 17 and launching tube 11.

In the FIG. 2 modification, the cartridge case 26 and retaining sleeve have been eliminated, and the propellant charge 30, wad means 31, 32, shot. mass 33 and its closure 34 are placed directly in the traveling barrel 17 with the same relative positioning to form a sub-caliber cartridge. In this instance, the second primer 24A is positioned in an appropriate central cavity or recess provided in the base of the expendable traveling barrel 17.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modification will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a weapon having a launching tube with a forward bore muzzle end and a rearward bore breech end,

an obturator secured in said launching tube rearward end and containing a propellant charge and a primer,

a cylindrical traveling barrel having a substantially closed rearward end secured to said obturator, an open forward end, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced circumferential ridges for slidably mounting said traveling barrel within said launching tube, said traveling barrel rearward end having a central passage therethrough,

a sub-caliber cartridge positioned within said traveling barrel and having a propellant charge and primer, and

a firing pin positioned in said traveling barrel passage to initiate said sub-caliber cartridge primer when actuated by said obturator propellant charge.

2. The structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein a retaining sleeve is secured to the traveling barrel and is positioned forwardly of and in abutment with a portion of said sub-caliber cartridge.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,657,630 11/1953 Blacker l0265.2 X 3,403,624 10/1968 Fosler et a] 42l F X 3,416,401 12/1968 Golbeck et al 102--38 X BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner J. M. HANLEY, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

